PKV refuses homeopathy reimbursement

Private health insurance reimbursement homeopathic medicines

25/01/2012

Private health insurance companies occasionally refuse to reimburse homeopathic medicines - with different reasons. In a current case, it is Axa Krankenversicherung AG, which does not cover the costs of the homeopathic medicine Zincum phosphoricum C 30, which has been prescribed by a doctor. In the refusal letter the Axa justified the non-reimbursement: „The related product Zincum phosphoricum was not approved as a medicinal product in Germany at the time of purchase. For this reason, a refund of the drug is not possible.“ Upon request, the Axa becomes more detailed: „... the mentioned product is not only a drug not approved in Germany, but also no comprehensible medically necessary treatment - at least not in the sense of a health insurance contract. If you approach it very benevolently, you could classify the drug as a 'nutritional supplement' (which obviously does not have it as a classification) and then it would still not be a drug within the meaning of the AVB (General Conditions of Insurance).“

The Scientific Society for Homeopathy (WissHom) takes a position
WissHom has examined this reasoning and other commonly used justifications. Curt Kösters, spokesman for the quality promotion section of WissHom, makes it clear: „Homeopathic medicines are clearly defined as medicines in the German Medicines Act (AMG). As such, they are subject to the law, regardless of whether they are approved with indication or registered, as usual with individual agents, without indication of indication.“ Regardless of whether they are approved conventional medicines or registered homeopathic or traditional herbal medicines, they are registrable. In the usual contracts of private insurers, the costs of prescribed medicines are reimbursed, as part of the outpatient medical treatment, as far as the treatment is medically reasonable and necessary. This is expressly not limited to conventional medical treatments. „About the meaningfulness and effectiveness of the medical therapy is not decided by the insurance, but the attending physician, but the contract was closed“, so the conclusion of the Hamburg doctor Kösters. The Scientific Society for Homeopathy (WissHom) is committed to the practical and theoretical development of homeopathy. (DZVhÄ)

Also read:
Techniker Krankenkasse reimburses homeopathy
Program Medical Homeopathy 2012 appeared
List of services for homeopathy billing

Picture: Günther Richter